MoMa’s Life Cycles: Materials of Contemporary Design Review

MoMa’s current exhibition on the first floor is the Life Cycles: Materials of Contemporary Design. This exhibition is free to view as you only require tickets to enter the second floor and floors after that. The exhibition is running until the 7th of July 2024. It is also found that the works displayed are both educative and of good design. Here is a link to the exhibition on their calendar for more information.

This review will only showcase a few works from the exhibition and create an overarching standpoint. It is not meant to review all works from the exhibition but to review the designs on their Eco friendliness and innovation.

MoMa’s Life Cycles General Review

Below is a general review of the exhibition and its features that are not representative of the artworks. This includes wall text, accessibility and other key features that are essential to an exhibition.

The curatorial wall text surrounding the work Adaptive Manufacturing (2016) is incredibly informative and technical. Though very captivating to read, we can realize that many visitors did not read the wall text. Or they had glanced at it for a few seconds. The wall text in a large amount of artworks throughout the museum has a large amount of text. Which a regular viewer (who is not educated/informed in art history) won’t pay much attention to.

Unfortunately, there is also a lack of accessibility within this exhibition. Despite a QR code at the entrance for audio; it is quite easy to miss. This is due to the wall text on the entrance is quite small. It is also found that the exhibition is extremely sterile. Especially since it could have had some sensory elements to enhance the experience.

This can be fixed through using sample materials that can be touched and felt. Essentially, this would make the exhibition feel more alive and more enjoyable for people who require a more sensory experience.

One great aspect of the exhibition, though, was the importance of sustainability. As we enter an era of climate change; this topic is of urgency to educate the population on how we can change. Explicitly due to a large amount of contemporary climate change denialism that is spread online.

Review on the Furniture Design

The exhibition showcases a large number of furniture designs that espouse environmentalism. Furthermore, the furniture is minimalistic, sleek and innovative featuring unique designs in ecologically friendly materials. Though this review will only cover a few designs shown in the exhibition.

The Cinderella Table (2004) [see above] is described in the exhibition as designed through the ‘digitized the profiles of two seventeenth- and eighteenth- century French tables’ through CAD software (Antonelli, Paola, Ellerkmann, Maya, 2024). Moreover, it is described as using both traditional and contemporary manufacturing methods to produce the finished product (Antonelli, Paola, Ellerkmann, Maya, 2024).

Essentially, we find that the design creates a compelling story through the combination of old and new. Alongside the curves of the table creating a style of biomimicry somewhat similar to an insect nest shape.

Endless Flow Rocking Chair (2011) has an elegant yet natural appearance to it despite being manufactured from recycled plastic. While the chair’s back bends in a way that provides comfort to the back when you sit down. Alongside this, the materiality of the chair provides a use-case for methods to recycle plastics from the environment into useful products.

Review on the Ceramics and Kitchenware

This section of the review will explore the ceramics and kitchenware exhibited in the show. Alongside how they are contributing to good design, sustainability and innovation.

The Woven Translations (2023) set of ceramicware look as though they are textile works rather than ceramics. They appear extremely beautiful and seem to be a homage to textile-based artworks. Though, unfortunately, we do not see the function of these as it is mostly prioritizing the form and aesthetics.

However, they look pleasing to the eye and they could be considered more of an artwork rather than design.

Algae Geographies (2019) is an absolutely innovative work- they are made (as the title suggests) of algae. It is quite widely known that algae can be dangerous to fish and other organisms (U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms, 2024) (as stated by the US National Office). Therefore, by recycling the algae into these objects they are helping to clean up our oceans.

Alongside this, these designs appear very functionable and even could be replicated to create other functional bio-plasticware. The items appear like plastic yet are not and as they are created from algae- they may be biodegradable. This showcases their sustainability and eco-friendliness and could be viewed as great design.

MoMa’s Life Cycles Conclusion

Overall, the MoMa’s Life Cycles exhibition showcases a plethora of great design and innovation. Numerous pieces exhibited explore a connection to sustainability and improving the environment through recycling. While others utilize technology to create captivating designs and stories surrounding the design.

Curiously, this exhibition is one that is duly needed within our generation as we enter into a climate crisis. These works can inform viewers on how we can make the right choices as consumers (and as designers). Good design includes fixing the environmental issues that plague us while creating inventive products.

It was also interesting to note the plethora of materials used for the numerous designs and the variety. Subsequently, the exhibition can be used as a springboard for inspiration on any design project exploring sustainable design.

Anyhow, there are many exhibitions currently ongoing in the MoMA and when visiting- don’t forget to visit their minimalistic café!

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References

All images here were photographed by myself but the artwork copyright is owned by the artists themselves. This article uses them to review the exhibition and therefore is under fair use. If any of the artists wish for their works to be removed from this page, please send me an email.

van Herpt, Olivier, Wassink, Sander (2016) Adaptive Manufacturing [3D-printed Earthware] Manhattan, New York, The MoMa

Demakersvan, Verhoeven, Jeroen (2004) Cinderella Table [Birch] Manhattan, New York, The MoMa

Antonelli, Paola, Ellerkmann, Maya (2024) Life Cycles: Materials of Contemporary Design, The MoMa, Manhattan, New York [Viewed: 20 June 2024]

Vander Kooij, Dirk (2011) Endless Flow Rocking Chair [3D-printed Recycled Plastic] Manhattan, New York, The MoMa

van Schie, Jibbe (2023) Woven Translations [3D-printed Ceramics] Manhattan, New York, The MoMa

Atelier Luma, Klarenbeek, Eric, Dros, Maartje, Studio Klarenbeek & Dros (2019) Algae Geographies [Microalgae and sugar based biopolymer] Manhattan, New York, The MoMa

U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms (2024)
Available at: https://hab.whoi.edu/impacts/impacts-wildlife/fish-kills/#:~:text=Prymnesium%20parvum%20toxins%20disrupt%20gill,to%20leap%20from%20the%20water.
[Accessed: 23 June 2024]